Upper Lake bus driver's next stop is retirement

UPPER LAKE -- After a nearly 30-year-long ride and more than 300,000 miles, Diana Dittman is ready to put on the brakes.

Dittman has been a bus driver for the Upper Lake School District for 29 of her 34-year career and will retire on May 31.

"All my headaches throughout the years have been behind me," Dittman said about her time driving school children, "but I always look at them as precious cargo, and I wouldn't trade it for anything."

She also drove 3 years for Lakeport schools, and another year for the Lake County Office of Education's special needs program.

The requirements to get a license are 20 hours of schooling and 20 hours behind the wheel, she said.

"It's tough, but the reason is look at what we're driving," Dittman said. "Parents put their children in our care."

On a typical day, she drives 72 miles from Upper Lake to Lucerne and back with about 75 students on her bus, two hours in the morning, another two in the afternoon and between that she works in the transportation office.

Bus drivers walk in and out of her office, where a photo of Dittman and other drivers in front of a bus sits above her desk. They ask her about their routes and schedules.

As the senior driver, the school put her in the position after the last transportation director left, and she said her experience and knowledge of the workload has helped her in taking over the job.

She also distributes citation reports and speaks with parents when a child misbehaves on the bus.

The biggest issue is students who don't stay in their seats, Dittman said.

During her career, she has watched children she drove grow up, and driven their kids as well.

Dittman's sons, like many other students, rode with her from the time they were about 6 years old until they had their own drivers' license.

"This job isn't for everybody, you have to enjoy kids," Dittman said. "I have a love for them and just coming to work."

She said working so many years for Upper Lake, the school district became like a family, but it was time to retire.

For those who are considering becoming a bus driver, "make sure you know this is what you want to do, be alert and be ready and have a lot of faith," Dittman said. "It's a big responsibility, but the years I've done it, I couldn't have done without the lord."

Berenice?Quirino?is a staff reporter for Lake County Publishing. She can be reached at 263-5636, ext. 36 or at bereniceq@record-bee.com.